Written Answers Thursday 20 January 2011

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Minister for Environment is doing to ensure that the carbon emissions impact of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is minimised.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is working with its delivery partners to reduce carbon emissions from the games. Specific measures include the innovative modification and re-use of venues, along with a new generation of lower carbon buildings. With the extensive promotion of active and sustainable transport and resource use minimisation, the Scottish Government intends that the 2014 Commonwealth Games will act as an exemplar for good green event management.

Bridges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many spans of the Cromarty Bridge are being repaired under the trial refurbishment that started in July 2010 and what the expected (a) cost and (b) completion date is.

Keith Brown: Under the current trial refurbishment contract, 4.5 spans of the Cromarty Bridge are being repaired, with an expected cost of £800,000. The trial contract is now scheduled for completion in spring 2011. Completion of the last phase of the works is scheduled for early April 2011 and is expected to last for six weeks.

Bridges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many spans of the Cromarty Bridge remain to be repaired and what the estimated (a) cost and (b) duration is of the planned contract.

Keith Brown: Sixty-three and a half spans of the Cromarty Bridge remain to be repaired after the current trial refurbishment contract is complete. The estimated cost of the remaining repairs is approximately £21 million, if the works were undertaken as a single contract lasting approximately 36 to 48 months. Alternative options may be looked at in the future to split the remainder of the refurbishment work into smaller duration contracts to avoid traffic delay over the longer period required for a single contract and to spread the overall cost over a number of years.

Bridges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment will be made of the cost of the (a) repairs and (b) construction of a replacement bridge before a commitment is made to undertake repairs to the Cromarty Bridge.

Keith Brown: An assessment of these costs has already been made by our operating company, Scotland TranServ and presented to Transport Scotland. The estimated cost of the remaining repairs is approximately £21 million and the overall scheme cost of replacing the structure is approximately £100 million. A cost comparison can be made with the new Clackmannanshire Bridge, which had an approximate final cost of £120 million. Value for money has therefore been sought for Cromarty Bridge.

Bridges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the design life is of the repairs planned for the Cromarty Bridge and how this compares with that of a replacement bridge.

Keith Brown: The planned repairs at Cromarty Bridge have a design life of approximately 20 to 30 years, depending on the nature of the repair. Modern designed structures have a design life of 120 years, however regular maintenance and remedial works will be required throughout this period. Following the refurbishment repairs at Cromarty Bridge, the need for future maintenance will be significantly reduced due to the use of cathodic protection that slows down the rate of corrosion of steel used in reinforced concrete.

Bridges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the delays to traffic resulting from the planned repairs to the Cromarty Bridge.

Keith Brown: No assessment of the economic impact to traffic delay has been made. The planned repair works are necessary to ensure the longevity and safety of the bridge and its users. Postponing the works would exacerbate the repair requirements and increase future costs. Traffic delays on the trial refurbishment contract were around 20 minutes at peak times and if journeys are planned in advance taking this into account the impact on the economy should be minimised.

Bridges

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated number of crossings of the Forth Road Bridge was in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Keith Brown: Responsibility for the operations of the Forth Road Bridge is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA).

Carers

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the (a) £70 million Change Fund and (b) £5 million Carer Information Strategies funding will be available to support local carers’ organisations.

Shona Robison: The £70 million funding established for 2011-12 is subject to parliamentary approval of the draft budget. The Reshaping Care Change Fund will be allocated to partnerships to enable them to make better use of the total combined resources for older people. Guidance to local health, housing and social care partnerships on accessing the fund was issued on 23 December 2010. The guidance asks all partnerships to submit local Change Plans to the Scottish Government by 28 February 2011. It sets a clear expectation on partnerships to include carers and carers’ organisations, as well as other third and independent sector partners, in preparing and agreeing their Change Plans.

  The £5 million for Carer Information Strategies (CIS) in 2011-12 is also subject to parliamentary approval of the draft budget. In the meantime, we have written to NHS health boards and to the National Carers Organisations seeking their views on the use of the £5 million. The funding will however be directed towards support for carers and young carers.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) budget for 2009-10 was spent on (a) improved insulation and (b) central heating installation.

Alex Neil: It is not possible to disaggregate the spend on insulation and heating, with most jobs including both types of measure. In addition to those measures funded by the EAP budget under Stage 4, there are Stage 3 insulation measures which are funded by the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with disabled people received support under each stage of the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10.

Alex Neil: This information is not collected centrally.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children received support under each stage of the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37227 on 11 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children are expected to receive support under each stage of the Energy Assistance Package in 2010-11.

Alex Neil: This will depend upon demand and is not fully known at this stage as the year runs up until 31 March 2011. The latest available figures are as follows.

  Referrals Between 1 April 2010 and 3 January 2011

  

Household Types
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4


Families with Children
2,552
1,104
3,556

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the 2009-10 Energy Assistance Package budget was spent on households with children.

Alex Neil: This information is not collected centrally.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the 2010-11 Energy Assistance Package budget is expected to be spent on households with children.

Alex Neil: The proportion of the budget spent on households with children will depend on demand and, where Stage 4 measures are installed, with the nature of the measures.

Climate Change

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in studies on the effects of milder winters.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not commissioned any studies looking specifically at the effects of milder winters. Climate change is one of three cross-cutting themes embedded in the Scottish Government’s £50 million annual investment in strategic research programmes. These make a significant contribution to climate change issues. An additional sum of at least £1 million is also invested annually in more specific climate change initiatives, including a collaborative partnership with the UK Research Councils on the Living with Environmental Change programme and the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment, which is led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on behalf of all parts of the UK.

Crime

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in the method of reporting of crimes and offences in the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: Police forces in Scotland report cases to procurators fiscal. Changes in the reporting of crime over the past five years have been driven by Lord Advocate’s Guidelines.

  In terms of the actual recording of crimes, the Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout all Scottish police forces on 1 April 2004. The main aim of the SCRS is to provide a more victim orientated approach that ensures greater consistency and uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. Further to this, the list of crime codes used to record crimes is consistent across all police forces in Scotland, and allows Scotland-level statistics to be created. This ultimately ensures a greater degree of comparability between forces than there was previously.

Crime

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in the method of recording of crimes and offences in the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout all Scottish police forces on 1 April 2004. The main aim of the SCRS is to provide a more victim orientated approach that ensures greater consistency and uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. Further to this, the list of crime codes used to record crimes is consistent across all police forces in Scotland, and allows Scotland-level statistics to be created. This ultimately ensures a greater degree of comparability between forces than there was previously.

  The Scottish Crime Registrars Group (SCRG), created to oversee change in all forces, has helped achieve a standardised approach to recording. The group consists of the eight police force crime registrars, as well as representatives from British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police and the Justice Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. The group meets every two months to review, maintain and improve the SCRS and its use and implementation.

  The Scottish Government continually strives to improve the way in which crimes and offences are recorded in Scotland, and will work with all police forces across Scotland, the SCRG and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to ensure that the rules in place ensure as much consistency and uniformity as possible.

  During the last five years, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) has undertaken a thematic inspection to review how the SCRS has developed within the police service in Scotland since 2005, and more recently, has conducted crime audits in each police force. The SCRG has responded to any recommendations published in these reports which relate to the recording of crimes and offences. In the last five years, the list of crime codes will have been updated to reflect new legislation which has been introduced within that time period. A recent example of this would have been changes to codes which relate to crimes of indecency, following the introduction of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 on 1 December 2010.

Disabled People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to local authorities to ensure that the implementation of personalised budgets for disabled people will not lead to a deterioration in the care that they receive.

Shona Robison: The National Strategy for Self-directed Support (SDS) sets out the core values and principles of SDS. Implementation of the strategy should deliver improved outcomes for people who need support and should not lead to a deterioration in the care they receive. I have recently written to those with a role in implementation, including Directors of Social Work, outlining the importance of the values and principles of SDS. A copy of this letter is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/adult-care-and-support/independent-living.

  A National Implementation Group is currently developing an action plan that will include consideration of the need for further SDS guidance. The 2007 Scottish Government guidance on self-directed support states that, when arranging an SDS package, a local authority should meet the cost of providing a service which is of an equivalent standard to that which it would otherwise provide. The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 places a firm duty of care on local authorities, and SDS does not remove that.

  The Scottish Government is also consulting on a draft Self-directed Support Bill. The bill seeks to enshrine choice and control through general principles that enable the citizen to choose how they wish to receive their care and support.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the education funding allocation for Argyll and Bute Council will be for 2011-12 if it complies with the conditions of the concordat, also expressed as a percentage of its budget.

Michael Russell: Local authorities receive funding from the Scottish Government in the form of a block grant. There is no education funding allocation. It is for each local authority to deploy the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives. Argyll and Bute Council’s provisional allocation for 2011-12 is £220.059 million if it signs up to the terms of the financial package by 28 February.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the education funding allocation will be for Argyll and Bute Council for 2011-12 if it breaches the conditions of the concordat by either decreasing teacher numbers or increasing teacher pupil ratios in primary 1 to 3, also expressed as a percentage of its budget.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38425 on 20 January 2011 with regard to there being no education funding allocation. All answers to written parliamentary question are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Argyll and Bute Council’s provisional allocation for 2011-12 is £220.059 million if it signs up to the terms of the financial package by 28 February. If it does not sign up by 28 February it will receive £211.981 million, £8.078 million less.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be an impact on a local authority’s education funding allocation if it decreases teacher numbers or increases teacher pupil ratios in primary 1 to 3 in October 2011 and, if so, what that impact will be.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has made clear that for councils to access the full amount of the financial package, it will require each local authority to agree formally to the full list of commitments contained within the package.

  Each local authority leader has been asked to write to the Scottish Government, by 28 February 2011 at the latest, to provide a formal assurance that the budget approved by the council includes provision to deliver all the specified commitments agreed. If not, the revenue funding available to the councils concerned will be reduced by an average of 6.4%, rather than 2.6%.

Emergency Services

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial estimates it has made of the impact of the VAT increase on Scotland’s police and fire services, broken down by board or authority.

Kenny MacAskill: Police and fire services can recover VAT on all expenditure and therefore no financial estimates have required to be made.

Environment

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what target has been set to continue to reduce plastic bag use, given that the Welsh Assembly Government is planning to introduce a levy on all disposable plastic bags.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government remains committed to the current voluntary agreement with retailers which has successfully reduced the number of plastic carrier bags used in Scotland. We are closely monitoring progress and considering possible further measures, such as new targets, and we will keep an open mind regarding legislation.

European Funding

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a further application for EU Trans-European Transport Network funding under priority axis 13

Keith Brown: An application was made for EU Trans-European Transport Network funding in each of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 rounds. Unfortunately due to the criteria set we have been unsuccessful in securing this funding.

Farming

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provided to farmers during the recent severe weather.

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government officials have been in daily contact with farmers and key stakeholders to understand industry priorities during the severe winter weather.

  The Scottish Government secured the case for an emergency relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours enforcement, to help inward and outward distribution of urgent feed and fuel supplies.

  Over 18,000 farmers and crofters have already been paid their single farm payment (SFP) this year, over £463 million which represents 98% of the total SFP net budget. The payments made on the earliest possible date, 1 December 2010, were a record since the scheme began.

Ferry Services

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been approached regarding the introduction of ferry services between Scotland and Norway.

Keith Brown: We have not received any recent formal approach about the introduction of ferry services between Scotland and Norway.

  During our consultation on the Northern Isles ferry services we received a petition calling for such a service to be introduced.

Ferry Services

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the possibility of ferry services between Scotland and Norway.

Keith Brown: Any ferry service between Scotland and Norway would have to operate on a commercially viable basis and this would be a matter for the prospective ferry operator to consider. We would be happy to consider any commercially viable proposal.

Ferry Services

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the introduction of ferry services between Scotland and Norway.

Keith Brown: We want to see the expansion of direct ferry connections from Scotland. We are therefore happy to engage with the operators of any proposed new commercially viable ferry service between Scotland and Norway.

Ferry Services

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would consider providing financial support for ferry services between Scotland and Norway.

Keith Brown: Any potential ferry service between Scotland and Norway would have to operate on a commercially viable basis. Strict EU State aid rules provide only very limited scope for financial support.

Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects 2010 rates revaluations appeals to be concluded.

John Swinney: 2010 Revaluation appeals must be disposed of by the Valuation Appeal Committees no later than 31 December 2013, although in practice many will be resolved well in advance of that date.

  In addition, in certain circumstances, appeals may be referred to the Lands Tribunal for determination.

Finance

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of the Supporting Sustainability budget will be affected by the reduction in that budget line of £20.7 million between 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Alex Neil: The reductions arise from the agreed profile of grant payments due to landlords which acquired housing stock transferred from local authorities; and from a reduction in the budget supporting the Energy Assistance Package, reflecting the reduction of almost 25% in the capital funding provided to the Scottish Government by the UK Government. Final budget decisions, of course will depend on Parliament’s consideration of the 2011-12 Budget Bill.

Finance

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of the Supporting Transitions budget will be affected by the reduction in that budget line of £20.2 million between 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Alex Neil: Whilst some decisions have been taken about the allocation of the £57.2 million budget published in the draft budget 2011-12, further decisions remain to be finalised. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to confirm which aspects of the draft budget will be affected by the proposed reduction between 2010-11 and 2011-12. Final budget decisions, of course will depend on the Parliament’s consideration of the 2011-12 Budget Bill.

Food Standards

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to eliminate bisphenol A from food packaging.

Shona Robison: Food safety controls on materials and articles in contact with food are harmonised at European level and Scottish Ministers are advised on such matters by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland. European Law currently allows the use of bisphenol A (BPA) up to certain permitted levels in many plastic food packaging materials.

  Since 2000, the FSA has undertaken two research projects and one survey on BPA in food contact materials. In all cases the levels of BPA identified were unlikely to be of concern to health. The agency continues to keep the published evidence on BPA under review and will act to protect consumers if the evidence shows that it is necessary to do so.

  In November 2010, a precautionary measure proposed by the European Commission was adopted which will introduce, from 1 March 2011, a phased European Union-wide prohibition on polycarbonate feeding bottles intended for infants of up to 12 months of age manufactured using BPA. The agency has recently completed a public consultation on a draft Scottish Statutory Instrument which would give effect to this new measure, along with an associated draft Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, and is currently considering the responses.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will be added to the Forth Replacement Crossing project when Value Added Tax is raised to 20%.

Keith Brown: The new VAT rate will be applied to the project, but we have reviewed the matter and are confident that the outturn cost can be kept within the present range.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it determines value for money when considering the costs associated with the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Keith Brown: The estimated costs of the Forth Replacement Crossing costs have been considered in relation to the Scottish Government definition of value for money (VfM), as the "optimum combination of whole-life costs and quality (or fitness for purpose) of the goods or service to meet the users’ requirements". This is not necessarily based on lowest costs as VfM includes both quantitative and qualitative assessment.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the cost of the successful tender for the Forth Replacement Crossing will be less than the upper estimate of £2.3 billion for the project.

Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing Project has been separated into three main contracts. We expect the final cost for the project to be less than the upper estimate of £2.3 billion.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the capital spend on the Forth Replacement Crossing will have on other capital programmes.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to effective management and delivery of its capital programme and we are working to manage the impact of the Forth Replacement Crossing on it. In order to provide maximum support for our wider capital programme following the massive reduction in our capital budget by the UK Government, we plan to take forward a major new pipeline of transport, education and health infrastructure projects worth up to £2.5 billion through the revenue-funded non-profit distributing model. This decision will boost capital spending next year and in subsequent years.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed borrowing powers contained in the Scotland Bill will be used to finance the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing will be fully funded through capital budgets.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the contracts for the Forth Replacement Crossing will be published.

Keith Brown: It is anticipated that the principal contract (main crossing and approach roads) will be awarded in late spring 2011, while the M9 Junction 1a and Fife ITS contracts are due to be awarded in summer 2011.

  Following award of each contract a contract notice will also be published in the Official Journal of the European Union to provide details of the successful contractor.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Forth Replacement Crossing project will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union; for how long it will be required to be advertised, and whether this will occur immediately after the Forth Crossing Bill is granted Royal Assent.

Keith Brown: The procurement of the project has been taken forward in parallel with the promotion of the Bill. The Project has been divided into three separate contracts, namely the Principal Contract, M9 Junction 1a and Fife Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, where a public authority has transmitted a Contract Notice by electronic means, the minimum time for advertisement, which is the time elapsed between publication and requests to be selected to participate, shall not be less than 30 days.The three contracts were advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union on the following dates:

  Principal Contract: 29 June 2009 to 3 August 2009

  M9 Junction 1a: 8 June 2010 to 12 July 2010

  Fife ITS: 2 July 2010 to 2 August 2010.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to maximise jobs for the construction sector and involve smaller firms in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Keith Brown: Following award of the contract, the successful contractor is required to advertise all subcontract opportunities on the Public Contacts Scotland website.

  In addition the project team has worked to encourage opportunities for small and medium enterprises through briefings and presentations with business representatives including the CBI.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Keith Brown: The contract requires the contractor to ensure that a minimum number of apprenticeships and training opportunities are provided through the project. The contractor is responsible for how it will provide these and must submit a training and employment method statement detailing how it will achieve and manage the recruitment, training and employment objectives.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what approaches it has received from John Beckett regarding his scheme to strengthen the Forth Road Bridge by re-engineering it; what consideration it has given to the scheme, and what response it has issued.

Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has received a number of written submissions from Mr Beckett containing proposals to modify the Forth Road Bridge since January 2009. These have been considered in detail by the project team. However, they have not been taken forward due to the substantial practical and logistical difficulties implementation of the proposals would present.

  Written responses have been provided to Mr Beckett following each submission. Mr Beckett also met with the Interim Project Director, John Howison on 25 February 2009 to discuss his proposals.

Fuel Poverty

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Energy Assistance Package budget was in 2009-10 and how much was spent.

Alex Neil: In 2009-10, the core Energy Assistance Package (EAP) budget was £45.36 million and this included for installations by Scottish Gas and administration of EAP by EST, funding for Energy Action Scotland and the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. This budget was fully spent.

Health

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make changes to free personal care.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to free personal care. It delivers real benefits and better outcomes to over 50,000 older vulnerable people right across Scotland.

  We are currently in negotiation with COSLA to a further inflationary increase of free personal and nursing care payments. This will be fourth inflationary increase since 2008.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest average delayed discharge period is for patients being transferred from hospital to care homes in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Shona Robison: Latest information on NHS Lanarkshire delayed discharge patients awaiting placement in a care home as recorded at the October 2010 Delayed Discharges census is shown in the following table.

  Table 1. Number of patients outwith the six week planning period, total, median, and mean delay durations for NHS Lanarkshire delayed discharges awaiting placement in a care home at the October 2010 census:

  

NHS Health Board 
of Treatment
Number of Patients Outwith the Six Week Planning Period1
Total (Patients)2
Total Delay (Days)3
Median Duration (Days)4
Mean Duration (Days)5


Lanarkshire
 - 
 5 
 153 
32.0
30.6



  Source: ISD Scotland, Delayed Discharges Census, Ref: IR2010-03129.

  Notes:

  1. Number of Delayed Discharges with a duration of over six weeks (43 days or more), i.e. the common period for discharge planning agreement timescales across Scotland

  2. Total number of Delayed Discharges, for all patients awaiting placement in a care home (reasons: Awaiting place availability in Local Authority Residential Home, Awaiting place availability in Independent Residential Home, Awaiting place availability in Nursing Home (not NHS funded), Non-availability of local authority funding to purchase Care Home Place, Awaiting place availability in care home (EMI/Dementia bed required), Patient exercising statutory right of choice), reported as at October 2010 census.

  3. Duration calculated from "Ready for Discharge Date" to October 2010 census date.

  4. The middle value of the set of duration values when arranged in numerical order.

  5. Calculated by summing all duration values and dividing by the number of delays.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lanarkshire regarding hospital discharge times for people requiring care home provision.

Shona Robison: Ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with all NHS boards, including NHS Lanarkshire. Hospital discharge formed part of these discussions.

Health

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospitals have accident and emergency units.

Nicola Sturgeon: ISD Scotland has historically classified Emergency Departments as either core or non-core sites. Core sites include all Emergency Departments within large hospitals. It is important to note that, according to this classification, some core sites are large minor injuries units, such as the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Non-core sites include minor injuries units, small hospitals with paper-based administration systems and health centres in rural areas that carry out Emergency Department related activity. ISD Scotland has confirmed that there are 37 core Emergency Departments in Scotland, and 59 non-core Emergency Departments.

Health

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital accident and emergency units have been forced to close in the last year due to staff shortages.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many closures of hospital accident and emergency units due to staff shortages in the last year have been attributed to the impact of the European working time directive.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally due to the number and complexity of both core and non-core sites, as indicated in the response to S3W-38462 on 20 January 2011. It should be noted that many emergency departments work in local and regional networks to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to address demand in unscheduled admissions. As such, emergency departments may close to admissions for short periods with relevant referrals directed to a nearby facility. NHS boards have established and robust protocols in place for such activity which is largely linked to increased demand for the service, as opposed to a shortage of appropriate staff. NHS boards also have effective strategic plans in place to ensure that services are appropriately staffed and remain fit for purpose.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing ratio per bed is of qualified nurses in paediatric intensive care units.

Shona Robison: Paediatric intensive care units in Scotland follow the Paediatric Intensive Care Society Paediatric Intensive Care Standards for staffing ratio per bed as a minimum guide. The PICS Standards state the ratio should vary from 1:1 to 2:1, depending on the level of care required. The actual level of qualified nurse per bed is set following an assessment of individual patient nursing needs.

Health

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been readmitted within 24 hours of discharge in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the number of emergency readmissions to hospital which took place on either the same day or following day when compared to the preceding hospital stay.

  Number of Hospital Emergency Readmissions on the Same Day or following Day from the Preceding Hospital Stay; Calendar Years 1999 to 2009

  

Calendar Year
Total Number of Hospital Stays
Number of Emergency Readmissions
Readmissions on the Same or Following Day as a % of all Hospital Stays


1999
1,085,821
7,850
0.72%


2000
1,079,376
8,112
0.75%


2001
1,071,263
8,593
0.80%


2002
1,036,562
8,361
0.81%


2003
1,024,488
8,180
0.80%


2004
1,045,285
8,680
0.83%


2005
1,058,524
8,793
0.83%


2006
1,095,338
9,596
0.88%


2007
1,112,211
10,710
0.96%


2008
1,143,908
11,336
0.99%


2009
1,161,137
11,282
0.97%



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what housing rents were charged by each (a) housing association and (b) local authority in 2009-10.

Alex Neil: Statistics on average Registered Social Landlord (RSL) rents are published by the Scottish Housing Regulator at:

  http://www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/shr_statisticstables2009-10.hcsp#TopOfPage.

  Statistics on average local authority rents are published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HRATables.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme has been allocated to each local authority in each year since 2006-07, also expressed in real terms.

Alex Neil: The following table shows how much of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme has been allocated to each local authority in each year since 2006-07, also expressed in real terms.

  GDP deflators for the real term figures have been sourced from HM Treasury. Real term figures for 2009-10 are the same as the actual spend figures provided. Planned expenditure has been provided for 2010-11:

  

Local Authority
Actual Spend
2006-07
Real Terms
2006-07
Actual Spend
2007-08
Real Terms
2007-08


North
 


Highland
43.557
46.859
37.802
39.486


Orkney
5.018
5.398
7.007
7.319


Shetland
3.030
3.260
5.728
5.983


Western Isles
6.704
7.212
7.698
8.041


Aberdeenshire
17.223
18.529
9.202
9.612


City of Aberdeen
5.014
5.394
4.232
4.421


Moray
11.262
12.116
14.742
15.399


East
 


Angus
8.302
8.931
8.108
8.469


City of Dundee
12.975
13.959
17.606
18.390


Perth and Kinross
16.524
17.777
14.989
15.657


Clackmannanshire
2.640
2.840
2.616
2.733


Falkirk
4.350
4.680
4.063
4.244


Stirling
10.135
10.903
9.067
9.471


East Lothian
4.440
4.777
4.836
5.051


Fife
16.210
17.439
25.957
27.113


Midlothian
2.786
2.997
6.568
6.861


Scottish Borders
7.470
8.036
8.790
9.182


West Lothian
10.706
11.518
4.413
4.610


City of Edinburgh
39.206
42.178
38.601
40.321


West
 
 
 
 


Dumfries and Galloway
14.880
16.008
16.728
17.473


East Ayrshire
9.206
9.904
12.679
13.244


North Ayrshire
11.687
12.573
10.256
10.713


North Lanarkshire
17.778
19.126
20.418
21.328


South Ayrshire
6.175
6.643
3.552
3.710


South Lanarkshire
18.074
19.444
23.694
24.750


Argyll and Bute
21.930
23.593
21.920
22.897


West Dunbartonshire
8.750
9.413
8.463
8.840


East Dunbartonshire
5.345
5.750
8.728
9.117


Inverclyde
14.353
15.441
20.827
21.755


Renfrewshire
22.969
24.710
22.415
23.414


East Renfrewshire
2.490
2.679
3.324
3.472


Glasgow
82.999
89.291
83.000
86.698


GHA
57.522
61.883
63.297
66.117



  

Local Authority
Actual Spend 
2008-09
Real Terms
2008-09
Actual Spend
2009-10
Planned Spend
2010-11


North
 


Highland
29.777
30.207
38.041
18.159


Orkney
6.287
6.378
7.471
4.312


Shetland
3.401
3.450
4.735
2.197


Western Isles
4.380
4.443
6.345
3.885


Aberdeenshire
24.382
24.734
14.807
2.359


City of Aberdeen
5.184
5.259
10.626
8.827


Moray
5.508
5.588
12.863
8.378


East
 


Angus
4.492
4.557
6.391
2.618


City of Dundee
8.467
8.589
12.337
5.456


Perth and Kinross
13.063
13.252
15.629
8.587


Clackmannanshire
2.627
2.665
4.916
2.619


Falkirk
4.966
5.038
9.139
4.365


Stirling
4.619
4.686
7.429
3.983


East Lothian
6.916
7.016
8.222
4.310


Fife
15.050
15.268
19.418
9.545


Midlothian
3.965
4.022
5.533
2.837


Scottish Borders
6.883
6.983
8.958
3.928


West Lothian
8.279
8.399
10.378
5.456


City of Edinburgh
37.900
38.448
46.500
36.100


West
 


Dumfries and Galloway
11.625
11.793
15.489
8.334


East Ayrshire
7.800
7.913
9.125
4.874


North Ayrshire
7.240
7.345
7.681
4.468


North Lanarkshire
16.269
16.504
17.661
9.635


South Ayrshire
6.800
6.898
8.439
3.646


South Lanarkshire
16.400
16.637
18.663
9.784


Argyll and Bute
15.280
15.501
26.262
18.765


West Dunbartonshire
8.335
8.455
11.465
5.647


East Dunbartonshire
6.746
6.844
8.224
4.337


Inverclyde
18.479
18.746
35.007
26.101


Renfrewshire
12.776
12.961
17.554
7.965


East Renfrewshire
3.749
3.803
6.586
2.960


Glasgow
84.000
85.214
83.000
83.000


GHA
79.300
80.446
77.669
73.600

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it proposes to do with the new £50 million competitive funding contained in the draft housing budget.

Alex Neil: We will use the fund to encourage applications from all providers to increase new affordable housing supply as much as possible. Further details will be made available shortly.

Housing

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was allocated to each local authority for the construction of new council houses in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07, (e) 2007-08, (f) 2008-09 and (g) 2009-10.

Alex Neil: No funding was allocated to local authorities to support the construction of new council houses between 2003-04 and 2008-09. In 2009-10, the Scottish Government allocated £49.9 million across two rounds of funding to support new council house building. A further £30.03 million was allocated in a third round of funding in 2010-11.

  

Local Authority
Round 1 Allocation (2009-10)
Round 2 Allocation (2009-10)
Round 3 Allocation (2010-11)
Rounds 1 to 3 
Total


Aberdeen City
78 units  £1.95 million
42 units  £1.05 million
31 units   £0.93 million
151 units
£3.93 million


Aberdeenshire
35 units
£875,000
74 units
£1.85 million
45 units
£1.35 million
154 units
£4.075 million


Angus
Unsuccessful application
38
£950,000
43 units, 
£1.29 million
81 units
£2.24 million


Argyll and Bute
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


City of Edinburgh
134 units
£3.35 million
50 units
£1.25 million
96 units, 
£2.88 million
280 units, 
£7.48 million


Clackmannan-shire
Did not apply
24 units
£600,000
Did not apply
24 units
£600,000


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Dumfries and Galloway
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Dundee City
32 units  £800,000
Unsuccessful application
8 units
£240,000
40 units  £1.04 million


East Ayrshire
10 units
£250,000
30 units
750,000
10 units  £300,000
50 units  £1.3 million


East Dunbarton-shire
Did not apply
26 units
£650,000
26 units
£780,000
52 units
£1.43 million


East Lothian
117 units
£250,000
54 units
£1.35 million
96 units  £2.88 million
267 units  £7.155 million


East Renfrewshire
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Falkirk
54 units
£1.35 million
42 units  £1.05 million
36 units  £1.08 million
132 units,   £3.48 million


Fife
41 units
£1,025 million
57 units  £1.425 million
62 units
£1.86 million
160 units
£4.31 million


Glasgow City
Did not apply
Unsuccessful application
Did not apply
N/A


Highland
Did not apply
51 units  £1.275 million
55 units  £1.65 million
106 units
£2.925 million


Inverclyde
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Midlothian
252 units
£2.52 million
53 units£1.325 million
47 units
£1.41 million
352 units, 
£5.255 million


Moray
48 units£1.2 million
Unsuccessful application
124 units,   £3.72 million
172 units,   £4.92 million


North Ayrshire
23 units
£575,000
26 units
£650,000
14 units
£0.42 million
63 units  £1.645 million


North Lanarkshire
78 units
£1.95 million
105 units  £2.625 million
35 units,   £1.05 million
218 units,   £5.625 million


Orkney
30 units  £750,000
38 units
£950,000
10 units
£300,000
78 units
£2 million


Perth and Kinross
26 units  £650,000
10 units
£250,000
45 units,   £1.35 million
81 units,   £2.25 million


Renfrewshire
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Scottish Borders
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


Shetland Islands
Unsuccessful application
Unsuccessful application
20 units  £600,000
20 units
£600,000


South Ayrshire
N/A
42 units  £1.05 million
26 units  £780,000
68 units
£1.83 million


South Lanarkshire
61 units
£1.525 million
20 units
£500,000
25 units
£750,000
106 units
£2.775 million


Stirling
25 units
£625,000
47 units  £1.175 million
55 units  £1.65 million
127 units
£3.45 million


West Dunbartonshire
Did not apply
Did not apply
Did not apply
N/A


West Lothian
298 units
£3.73 million
125 units
£3.125 million
92 units  £2.76 million
515 units
£9.615 million


Total
1342 units
£26.05 million
954 units  £23.85 million
1,001 units,   £30.03 million
3,297 units, 
£79.93 million

Housing

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new council houses were (a) built and (b) planned by each local authority in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07, (e) 2007-08, (f) 2008-09 and (g) 2009-10.

Alex Neil: The number of new council houses started and completed in each financial year since 1996-97 is published by local authority area on the Housing Statistics for Scotland pages of the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildLA.

  With regard to council houses planned by each local authority, the Affordable Housing Securing Planning Consent Survey collects data from planning authorities on planning applications that have been granted consent. Table 1 shows how many new council houses were granted consent in each financial year from 2005-06, the earliest date for which these data are available.

  As there is no comprehensive mechanism for monitoring planning applications, it is possible that some applications that should be recorded in the survey are not recorded at the time they are received. They may be recorded in subsequent years.

  Table 1: Units Consented For Local Authority Rent, by Planning Authority Area

  

 
Units Consented for Local Authority Rent1,2,3


2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Total


Aberdeen City
33
0
0
0
0
33


Aberdeenshire
0
4
0
4
23
31


Angus
0
0
0
0
0
0


Argyll and Bute
0
0
0
0
0
0


Cairngorms4
-
-
-
-
-
-


Clackmannanshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0
0


Dundee City
0
0
0
0
21
21


East Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
10
10


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


East Lothian
0
22
38
126
152
338


East Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Edinburgh, City of
0
0
0
0
107
107


Eilean Siar
0
0
0
0
0
0


Falkirk
0
4
3
0
62
69


Fife
0
0
0
0
0
0


Glasgow City 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Highland
0
0
0
0
0
0


Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
0
0


Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
0
0
0
0
0
0


Midlothian
0
262
132
242
218
854


Moray
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
27
27


North Lanarkshire
0
0
0
20
0
20


Orkney Islands
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth and Kinross
0
0
0
0
10
10


Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Scottish Borders
0
0
0
0
0
0


Shetland Islands
10
6
0
2
16
34


South Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


South Lanarkshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Stirling
0
0
0
10
0
10


West Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


West Lothian
0
0
0
0
0
0


Scotland
43
298
173
404
646
1,564



  Notes:

  1. Source: Affordable Housing Securing Planning Consent Survey 2009-10.

  2. Numbers of units in this table are for housing units intended for use as rental properties by local authorities. The majority of these contributions (84%) are funded entirely by the public (or voluntary) sector. Most of the remaining 16% are from contributions of land, or sales of built units by developers at a price which allows this type of provision to occur.

  3. Units receiving consent are not guaranteed to be/have been built.

  4. Cairngorms developments have been recorded by overlapping authorities.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses were completed in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Alex Neil: There were 195 council houses completed in 2008 and 452 in 2009. The figure for 2010 will be published on 23 February 2011.

  This information is published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland pages of the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildLA.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many housing association houses were completed in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Alex Neil: There were 5,797 housing association houses completed in 2008 and 8,654 were completed in 2009. The figure for 2010 will be published on 23 February 2011. These figures include all Housing Association completions carried out through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) including new house building, off the shelf purchases and rehabilitations.

  The figures are published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages of the Scottish Government’s website.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NB-AHIP.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been reported to the procurator fiscal as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

  Loan sharks reported to the procurator fiscal as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:

  2004-05 - 2

  2005-06 - 14

  2006-07 - 5

  2007-08 - 8

  2008-09 - 4

  2009-10 - 4.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been prosecuted as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money lending Unit in each year since 2004.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

  Loan sharks prosecuted as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:

  2004-05 - 0

  2005-06 - 0

  2006-07 - 2

  2007-08 - 5

  2008-09 - 1

  2009-10 – 1.

  The unit are currently working in conjunction with the Crown Office to examine issues that have arisen with previous unsuccessful cases with a view to preventing recurring problems. In addition to criminal prosecution the Unit can use the civil recovery procedures under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover monies that may have been accrued by the lender. Unpaid taxes may also be recovered by HMRC.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been (a) fined or (b) imprisoned as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

  Loan sharks that have been (a) fined or (b) imprisoned as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:

  2004-05 – (a) 0; (b) 0

  2005-06 – (a) 0; (b) 0

  2006-07 – (a) 1; (b) 1

  2007-08 – (a) 4; (b) 0*

  2008-09 – (a) 0; (b) 1

  2009-10 – (a) 1; (b) 0.

  Note: *In 2007-08 one criminal case resulted in a Community Service Order.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive December 2010, whether it will provide a breakdown of the funds already allocated to Malawi for 2011-12 and details of the projects involved.

Fiona Hyslop: Details of funding already allocated for projects in Malawi in 2011-12 are contained in the following table. Information on each of the projects is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

  Malawi Development Programme - Commitments for 2011-12

  

Organisation
Project Title
2011-12


Active Learning Centre
Building democratic dialogue with women in communities
£84,200.00


Active Learning Centre
Rights advice and information to promote access to justice in Mangochi and Dedza
£91,249.29


CBM
Improving children’s eye care in Malawi
£23,500.00


Challenges Worldwide - Capacity Building for Justice
Capacity Building for Justice
£150,211.00


Christian Aid
Empowerment for Health and Livlihoods
£133,327.00


Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland Safe Motherhood Programme
£117,608.00


Concern Worldwide
Health and Nutrition Programme
£123,383.00


Concern Worldwide
Promoting Equal Access to Education
£169,500.00


Eurotalk Interactive
Digital Tools for Rural Schools
£75,850.00


Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
JANEEMO Enterprises
£116,382.00


NHS Tayside Emergency Medicine Service
Supporting the establishment of the first Adult Emergency and Trauma Centre (AETC) in Malawi
£129,718.00


Open University
Saltire Scholarships
£132,096.00


Opportunity International
Sustainable Livlihoods in Nsanje
£100,000.00


Oxfam Scotland
Promoting Sustainable Livlihoods for Vulnerable Groups
£120,000.00


Scotland Malawi Business Group
Capacity Building for Enterprise
£165,354.00


Scotland-Malawi Mental Health Education Project (SMMHEP)
Building Mental Health Education
£103,300.00


Scottish Agricultural College
Dairy Diploma Programme
£110,482.00


Scottish CROP Research Institute
Strengthening Potato Production
£195,258.00


Scottish International Relief
Mary’s Meals School Feeding Programme
£171,430.00


Sense Scotland
Malawi Deaf/ Deafblind Education
£83,135.00


Tearfund Scotland
Livingstonia Synod Aids Program
£123,000.00


University of Edinburgh
eLiCE: e-learning in clinical education
£161,944.00


University of Strathclyde
Scotland Chikwawa Health Initiative
£113,729.00


Venture Trust Malawi
Moving on Malawi
£95,260.00


Waverley Care
Penzani Myayi
£135,000.00


Total
 
£3,024,916.29

Justice

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parenting orders have been issued in the Linlithgow constituency.

Fergus Ewing: Such information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government is not aware of any parenting orders having been issued in the Linlithgow constituency.

Justice

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ban the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.

Fergus Ewing: We will consider very carefully all arguments made in relation to these devices, the submissions made to the Public Petitions Committee, and the proposal made by members of the Scottish Youth Parliament that the devices should be banned.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase public confidence in community sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: We are increasing public confidence by improving the system. The new community payback order, which comes into force on 1 February, will be clearer, tougher and more effective than the community disposals it will replace.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12538 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 April 2008, how it will undertake workforce planning in relation to the new HEAT target on access to talking therapies.

Shona Robison: NHS boards working with their statutory and voluntary partners, have primary responsibility for designing and delivering services to their local population. Psychological therapies will be delivered by different groups of staff including psychologists, nurses and allied health professionals, and NHS boards are responsible for ensuring that their workforce is trained and competent to deliver a range of appropriate therapies as part of the preparation for the target.

  Delivery of good quality psychological care requires that the correct numbers of well trained staff are available for career posts in psychology services across NHSScotland. NSS Information Services Division (ISD) and NHS Education Services (NES) have collaboratively collected and reported psychology services workforce information since 2001 and will continue to do so.

  In collaboration with Skills for Health, NES has also produced psychological therapy competence frameworks to ensure that training equips staff to deliver therapy safely and effectively. We have also funded NES to support the training of a range of staff in a number of evidenced based therapeutic approaches.

Ministerial Correspondence

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters have been sent by its ministers highlighting its policies to interested parties in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) minister, (b) number of letters and (c) cost.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NHS Staff

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) change in percentage use of and (b) expenditure for agency and bank nursing and midwifery staff was in each NHS board in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Separate tables showing information about the change in percentage use of agency and bank nursing and midwifery staff have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52305 and 52306 respectively).

  (b) Trend costs for agency nursing and midwifery staff in each NHS board are available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Agency%20Nurse%20200910.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

  Trend costs for bank nursing and midwifery staff in each NHS board are available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Bank%20Nurses%20200910.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

Non-Domestic Rates

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to the Rural Community Transport Initiative Small Projects Fund in 2011-12.

Keith Brown: The Rural Community Transport Initiative Small Projects Fund closed on 31 March 2008. We have no plans to reintroduce the scheme.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it publishes comparisons of non-domestic rates repayments broken down by local authority area.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what length of time would constitute prompt repayment of non-domestic rates, as referred to in Local Government Finance Circular No. 15/2010.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are in place to assess the timeliness of local authorities’ repayment of non-domestic rates.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are in place to address delays in repayments of non-domestic rates by local authorities.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government engages regularly with a range of ratepayers and business organisations on the operation of the business rates system.

  As part of that engagement, at a rate payers forum meeting on 16 December 2010 involving a range of rate payers and business organisations it was agreed that the Scottish Government would remind local authorities of the need for prompt repayment, particularly when the rates liability reduces as the result of a successful valuation appeal. This led to the issue of Local Government Finance Circular No 15/2010 on 20 December 2010.

  As set out in that finance circular, the Scottish Government considers that any repayment of business rates should be made as soon as possible, particularly in the current economic climate.

Parliamentary Questions

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-37769, which received a holding answer on 8 December 2010.

Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37769 on 20 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Pharmacies

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to NHS boards to ensure that disabled people have access to pharmacies.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Achieving Fair Access guidance was issued in October 2006, to help NHS Scotland meet the needs of disabled people.

  Health Facilities Scotland issued in August 2007 a non-binding guidance note SHPN 36-3 Community Pharmacy Premises in Scotland for those planning new premises or upgrades to existing community pharmacies.

  The formal responsibility for registration and standards for pharmacies in the United Kingdom lies with the recently established General Pharmaceutical Council who have yet to issue formal guidance.

Pharmacies

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the guidelines issued to NHS boards in relation to access to pharmacies are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is not aware that any existing guidance related to Community Pharmacy in Scotland issued by the Scottish Government including through the NHS is inconsistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Planning

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce procedural errors in appeals against planning decisions.

John Swinney: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals which handles planning appeals made to Scottish Ministers takes a number of steps to ensure that procedural errors in relation to appeals are kept to a minimum and that on the rare occasions when they happen, lessons are learned, corrective action is taken where required, and any changes required to procedures are implemented quickly. Steps taken to keep errors to a minimum include regular training for professional and administrative staff, professional peer group review, checking of letters by senior reporters, and thorough induction and mentoring of all new staff to the directorate.

Planning

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to ensure that local authorities notify owners of land significantly affected by planning applications.

John Swinney: Statutory requirements under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (the DMR) oblige planning authorities to carry out neighbour notification and, in certain circumstances, local advertisement of planning applications.

  Planning authorities are required to send notice of a planning application, addressed to "the Owner, Lessee or Occupier", to premises on "neighbouring land". The term "neighbouring land" is defined as "an area or plot of land which, or part of which, is conterminous with or within 20 metres of the boundary of land which the development is proposed". Local advertisement of a proposal is required where there are no such premises to which notification can be sent, it is of a type listed in the DMR as likely to have impacts over a wider area or it is a departure from the development plan.

  Prior to the changes in August 2009, notification was required in relation to land which was conterminous with or within four metres of the boundary of the land, excluding the width of any roads, for which development was proposed. The current requirements aim to strike an appropriate balance between having notice served on those most immediately affected by a proposal and ensuring that requirements are clear, easy to interpret and do not undermine the efficient processing of applications.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has available demonstrating the connection between police numbers and the level of crime.

Kenny MacAskill: The research report Community Policing: A review of the Evidence by Mackenzie and Henry, demonstrates that effective community policing is associated with a reduction in crime and disorder. This report was published by the Scottish Government in 2009, and is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/19091609/0.

  There are now 17,371 police officers in Scotland. This is an increase of 1,137 since March 2007. This government’s investment in police officer numbers has enabled chief constables to deploy significant new resources towards making our communities safer. This has helped to reduce Scotland’s crime rate to a 32 year low.

Prescriptions

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37443 by Shona Robison on 22 November 2010, how many breaches of the statutory instruments arising from Article 81 of European Directive 2001/83 or relevant ethical guidance have (a) been reported and (b) resulted in action against a supplier, pharmacist or doctor holding a wholesaler licence.

Nicola Sturgeon: Article 81 of European Directive 2001/83 requires the maintenance of appropriate and continued supply of medicinal products by marketing authorisation holders and distributors so that the needs of patients are met. Article 81 has been implemented into UK medicines legislation through the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994 (Statutory Instrument 1994/3144, as amended) and The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005/2789).

  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) investigate all reports of suspected breaches of medicines legislation, including matters relating to Article 81. To date no breaches of Article 81 have been established.

  The MHRA has in place a targeted programme of inspections aimed at ensuring that those who jeopardise patient care comply with their duties on supply.

  This information has been provided by the MHRA.

Prescriptions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for people to purchase prepaid prescriptions and what percentage of the adult population purchases these.

Shona Robison: A person who has a Community Health Index (CHI) number, or who is the holder of a valid entitlement card, is eligible to buy a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC). The people most likely to benefit from buying a PPC include those with long-term medical conditions who may need regular prescribed medicines, and who are not exempt from prescription charges.

  Four hundred and thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and seventy-three PPCs were sold in 2009-10, broken down as 375,627 four-month certificates and 62,246 12-month certificates. However, patients can buy up to three four-month PPCs each year and as a result we do not hold data which shows how many individuals bought those certificates.

  Since 2007-08, the year prior to the introduction of our policy of phasing out prescription charges, the cost of a four-month certificate has been reduced from £35.85 to £10, and the cost of a 12-month certificate has been reduced from £98.70 to £28. The number of PPCs bought has increased over that period by 160%, benefitting all that buy them, particularly those with long-term conditions, for whom the cost of prescriptions may act as a barrier to maintaining good health.

  This barrier will be removed in Scotland when prescription charges are abolished on 1 April 2011, subject to parliamentary approval.

Public Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what activity will be funded by the additional expenditure shown for the smartcard programme in Table 7.05 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

Keith Brown: The £9.5 million allocated to the smartcard programme quoted in the draft budget 2011-12 paper will be used to fund the managed services that support the current ITSO interoperable smart systems, ITSO fees and charges, necessary software and hardware upgrades including back office systems development as well as supporting further development of smart and integrated ticketing.

Public Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to further refine the existing on-bus smartcard system and, if so, what the nature of the refinements will be.

Keith Brown: The roll-out of smart enabled electronic ticket machines to the entire Scottish bus fleet has allowed Transport Scotland to introduce processes that enable it to manage the National Concessionary Travel Scheme more efficiently and more effectively. Transport Scotland will continue to review these processes and introduce further improvements as appropriate.

Public Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be able to provide a Scotland-wide multi-modal smartcard ticket for public transport and, if so, by what date.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has provided smart enabled electronic ticket machines to the entire Scottish bus fleet, as part of its administration of the National Concessionary Travel Scheme, and is working with First Scotrail on a trial of similar systems for the rail industry. We will continue to work with transport operators, local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships to support the creation of a multi-modal smartcard ticket for public transport.

Public Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37770 by Stewart Stevenson on 6 December 2010, whether it has now completed its consideration of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s final proposals for the modernisation of the Glasgow subway and, if so, whether it will provide details of its decision in this regard.

Keith Brown: Consideration of SPT’s proposal for the modernisation of the subway continues. We will report the outcome when those considerations are complete.

Radioactive Waste

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive will provide an update on its policy for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste arising in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce publication today of the policy for higher activity radioactive waste arising in Scotland and also the Post-Adoption Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement. The documents can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/hawpolicy and www.scotland.gov.uk/hawpostadoption . Copies of the documents have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52310 and Bib. number 52311).

  The Scottish Government position remains that it does not support deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. The Scottish Government policy is that the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste should be in near-surface facilities. Facilities should be located as near to the site where the waste is produced as possible. Developers will need to demonstrate how the facilities will be monitored and how waste packages, or waste, could be retrieved. All long-term waste management options will be subject to robust regulatory requirements.

  The policy is not prescriptive in its approach, recognising that it applies to waste which may not be produced for decades and for which long-term management options may not be feasible at present or have yet to be developed.

  The Scottish Government has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders to shape the final policy. We will continue to engage with stakeholders in developing the strategy to implement the policy.

Rail Network

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the creation of a not-for-profit bidder for the ScotRail franchise and what action it has taken to explore the practicality of this.

Keith Brown: All contract models for the future franchise are being fully explored, including not-for-profit models. Discussions with the Scottish Trades Union Congress and its affiliate rail unions have already taken place as part of the preparatory work currently being undertaken to launch a full consultation exercise on the form and content of the next franchise.

Rail Network

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in delivering improvements to the Highland main line.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an hourly rail service between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow will be achieved by December 2011.

Keith Brown: Ministers confirmed in the Scottish draft budget for 2011-12 that services operating between Inverness and the central belt will increase from nine to 11 trains per day. The increase in service frequency is expected to be introduced in the December 2011 timetable. In addition, Network Rail will undertake work on the route to reduce journey times. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in time for the May 2012 timetable.

  The increases in service frequency and line speed enhancements form phase one of the Highland Main Line Improvements project. Transport Scotland is currently working closely with Network Rail and First ScotRail on the detail for the delivery of this phase.

Rail Network

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the speed improvements to reduce the Inverness to Edinburgh/Glasgow rail journey time by 35 minutes to be introduced.

Keith Brown: The project will be delivered in phases and provides incremental journey time reductions.

  The first phase of the Highland Main Line Improvements Project is anticipated to deliver journey time reductions from May 2012.

Rail Network

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans for trials of Meridian or Voyager train units between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow.

Keith Brown: ScotRail has no plans to trial these trains on these routes.

Rail Network

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to upgrade the three single track lines from Inverness.

Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is working closely with Network Rail on developing the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project, which includes potential track upgrading along the 109 mile route.

  However, we have no plans at present to upgrade the single track lines between Inverness and the Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness and Thurso/Wick.

Rail Network

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in upgrading the secondary route via Newburgh from Hilton Junction on the Inverness to Edinburgh rail line.

Keith Brown: Re-modelling of the Hilton Junction on the Edinburgh to Inverness rail line has taken place, which has provided improved line speeds as part of Network Rail’s track renewal programme.

  Work to upgrade the track is still ongoing and should provide further line speed improvements along the route to Ladybank during 2011. Network Rail plans further improvements to Ladybank Junction, which is anticipated to provide additional journey time reductions. This work is expected to be completed in 2013.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many train services were cancelled as a result of the severe weather conditions between 29 November and 8 December 2010.

Keith Brown: ScotRail has provided information which shows that 11,434 ScotRail train services were cancelled between 29 November and 8 December 2010.

Rail Services

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the passenger-carrying capacity of the rail network has been in each year since 1999.

Keith Brown: We do not hold annual data for the passenger-carrying capacity of the rail network. We do hold the agreed weekday seating capacity for ScotRail services for each of the main timetable changes since 2005 and this is provided below. This information is not held prior to 2005 as rail powers transferred to Scottish Ministers from 2005.

  The following table shows the ScotRail agreed weekday seating capacity for each of the main timetable changes from December 2005.

  

Timetable
Change Date
Seating
Weekday


December 2005
444,577


December 2006
458,219


December 2007
447,973


December 2008
457,366


December 2009
458,557

Rail Services

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rail network has operated (a) at, (b) above or (c) below its passenger-carrying capacity in each year since 1999, showing the (i) number of passengers and (ii) proportion of passenger-carrying capacity that this represents.

Keith Brown: ScotRail provides more seating capacity on the network in any year than the number of passengers travelling.

  ScotRail’s obligation in the Franchise Agreement with Scottish Ministers is to allocate its train fleet and resources in the most effective way to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding a train, with the exception of non-stop trains operating between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street.

  ScotRail passenger numbers for each year since 1999 are published in the Scottish Transport Statistics No. 29 2010 edition (Table 7.1). A copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52250).

  For passenger carrying capacity I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38371 on 20 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Rail Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains have been cancelled on the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line under the current amended timetable.

Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. ScotRail is not contractually required to provide performance information in this format.

Rail Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the trial upgrading of the engines on the current Turbostar train rolling stock has been successful.

Keith Brown: The trial involving the upgrade of some engines fitted to ScotRail class 170 Turbostar trains was not successful on express routes.

Rail Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many train journeys on the Motherwell/Coatbridge Central/Cumbernauld route were cancelled between November 2010 and 11 January 2011.

Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. ScotRail is not contractually required to produce performance information in this format.

Regeneration

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many written representations regarding town centre regeneration funding it has received from (a) the convener of infrastructure services and (b) officials of Angus Council in each month since October 2009.

Alex Neil: We have received no written representations from the Convener of Infrastructure Services of Angus Council within this timeframe.

  According to our records, we have received written representation from Angus Council officials as follows:

  

Month
2009
2010
2011


January
 
0
0


February 
 
7 
 


March
 
6
 


April
 
3
 


May
 
5
 


June 
 
1
 


July
 
1
 


August 
 
3
 


September
 
0
 


October
 
2
 


November
 
2
 


December
3
6

Regeneration

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for meetings regarding town centre regeneration funding it has received from (a) the convener of infrastructure services and (b) officials of Angus Council in each month since October 2009.

Alex Neil: We have received no requests for meetings regarding town centre regeneration funding from the Convener of Infrastructure Services at Angus Council within that timeframe.

  According to our records, there were five meetings held with Angus Council officials: in December 2009, February 2010, May 2010, June 2010 and September 2010.

Residential Care

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for admission to care homes in North Lanarkshire.

Shona Robison: Information on waiting times for admission to care homes is not available centrally.

Residential Care

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding care home provision.

Shona Robison: We have not discussed care home provision specifically with North Lanarkshire Council.

  Local authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess the needs of, and provide appropriate services - including care home provision - to people who are assessed as needing them. According to latest statistics, care home provision in North Lanarkshire is about average with 44 registered places per 1,000 population aged over 65.

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the police can take against those responsible for oil or diesel spills on roads.

Kenny MacAskill: People discharging oil or diesel onto a road can be charged with a range of offences depending on the nature and seriousness of the circumstances.

  Under Common Law a charge of Culpable and Reckless can be brought against the accused. The case can be referred to various Courts depending on the seriousness of the offence. Cases that are referred to the High Court face an unlimited fine and sentence.

  A person can also be charged under Section 100 of the Road (Scotland) Act 1984 with discharging anything onto a road that would damage the road. The maximum fine for this offence is £1,000.

  Various charges can also be brought under the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The maximum penalty under the Regulations is a £60 fine.

Roads

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at what number of daily crossings by pedestrians on trunk roads with a 60 mph speed limit Transport Scotland considers introducing road safety interventions.

Keith Brown: There are no set criteria for the number of daily crossings by pedestrians on trunk roads with a 60 mph speed limit related to introducing road safety interventions.

  Safer road design, improved speed management, continued maintenance and a better provision for vulnerable road users are amongst the steps being taken to reduce numbers of injuries and fatalities on Scotland’s roads. Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis by screening all locations where three or more injury accidents have occurred in a three year period and this includes pedestrian injury accidents. Further investigations are carried out and where appropriate, mitigation measures are installed.

Scottish Government Agencies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, what advice and support the Director of Learning has provided in relation to stakeholder communication across Scotland; what stakeholder engagement events the Director of Learning has managed, and what ministerial core scripts and briefings the Director of Learning has maintained and developed in the last six months.

Michael Russell: The Director of Learning communicates frequently with stakeholders by letter, telephone, at stakeholder events and meetings. The Director also provides frequent briefing to ministers and ensures core scripts are frequently maintained.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38043 by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010, what the annual cost was of NHS Tayside’s Quit 4 U smoking cessation pilot project.

Shona Robison: The annual cost of NHS Tayside’s "Quit 4 U" pilot project is as follows:

  

 
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12


Project Support Costs
 
 
 
 


Scottish Government
£50,000
£182,000
 
 


NHS Health Scotland
 
£19,500
£25,500
 


NHS Tayside
 
£37,000
£74,000
 


Evaluation Costs 
 
 
 
 


NHS Health Scotland 
 
£40,500
£27,000
£67,500


Total 
£50,000
£279,000
£126,500
£67,500

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S3W-38043 by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010, whether NHS Tayside’s Quit 4 U smoking cessation pilot project was evaluated and, if so, whether it was regarded as a success and, if so, for what reason funding was not continued.

Shona Robison: The evaluation of NHS Tayside’s Quit 4 U project is still ongoing and a final report is due in spring 2012. Agreement was reached with the Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Tayside to fund Quit 4 U as a national pilot project with robust evaluation arrangements in place, to enable learning from it to be fed into policy/practice elsewhere in Scotland if appropriate. Any continuation of the initiative beyond the pilot period is a matter for NHS Tayside.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37439 by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010, what evaluation has made of the effectiveness of the expenditure on smoking cessation in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Shona Robison: The effectiveness of NHSScotland smoking cessation services is monitored via statistics published annually by ISD Scotland. There were a total of 69,882 quit attempts made/quit dates set in 2009. This compares with 51,621 quit attempts during the previous calendar year (revised 2008 figures), representing an increase of 18,261 (or 35%). Of the 69,882 quit attempts made in 2009, 26,485 were recorded as a successful quit at one month after the "quit date"‘, up from 20,188 in 2008 (revised 2008 figures), a rise of 6,297 (or 31%). Specific information on the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions is available from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including health economic appraisals which emphasise the high cost-effectiveness of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions and that the cost per life year saved is well below the NICE benchmark.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how the £2,500,000 allocated in 2010-11 to smoke-free laws is being spent.

Shona Robison: The monies for 2010-11, which are in local authorities’ baselines, allow local authorities to put in place support to enforce the smoke-free legislation and is specifically put towards the cost of enforcement officers who ensure compliance with the law. These officers are responsible for taking action against those managers and owners of premises, as well as individuals, who do not comply with the smoke-free legislation. However, the officers also offer support and assistance to businesses to ensure they comply with the legislation.

  It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, for what reason the budget for smoke-free laws was applied separately from the enforcing of smoke-free legislation.

Shona Robison: With reference to my response to question S3W-37464 the budget for the smoke-free laws has not been applied separately from the budget for smoke-free legislation. This budget allows local authorities to enforce the smoke-free laws.

  Separately identified in my response to S3W-37464 was the specific budget for the new Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010. This budget in the main will be used to raise awareness of the measures contained in the new act, specifically among tobacco retailers but also the general public. It will also be used to produce guidance materials for the trading standards service and to set up a national register of tobacco retailers.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how much of the £425,000 allocated to the implementation of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (a) has been spent and (b) is expected to be spent by the end of 2010-11.

Shona Robison: As at 12 January 2011, £244,617 has been spent from the allocated budget. We expect to spend the remainder of the budget by the end of this financial year.

St Andrew’s Day

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it provided to schools regarding St Andrew’s Day 2010 and at what cost.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government held a St Andrew’s Day poster competition on the theme of "Scotland’s Food and Drink" and sent a promotional leaflet to schools, pre-schools, nurseries, playgroups and family centres. The design, print and distribution of the leaflet, together with a £200 prize for each of the three winning entries, cost £4,589.

State Hospital

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost per patient in the State Hospital, Carstairs, was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and what the expected cost is for 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: Cost per patient at The State Hospital;

  

2007-08
£135,513


2008-09
£151,773


2009-10
£202,615


2010-11(as at December 2010)
£224,014


2011-12 (estimated)
£209,531

Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget for 2011-12 includes provision for investment in the Glasgow Fastlink project in that year.

Keith Brown: Yes - following the Scottish Government’s budget statement on 17 November, a funding contribution has been set aside for Fastlink in 2011-12. The Scottish Government remains committed to Fastlink and are willing to contribute to the costs of a core scheme which improves bus services between the city centre, the Southern General Hospital, and the SECC, with obvious benefits for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

  As a local public transport scheme, however, it is for SPT and its project partners to determine next steps. Ministers will consider properly how and when to contribute on receipt of advice from the consortium about how, and to what extent each of them can provide or source funding for their preferred scheme.

Transport

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments in the Strategic Transport Projects Review it will (a) take forward and (b) prioritise in 2011.

Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport Projects Review sets out 29 investment priorities over the period to 2032 and this government is committed to delivering these projects subject to the transport allocation within future spending reviews and affordability.

  Our priority projects remain the Forth Replacement Crossing, Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme, Highland Main Line and the Aberdeen to Inverness line.

  We are also working with partners and stakeholders to take forward the other projects, including:

  The design and development of the A9, with design work for dualling currently being undertaken between Birnam and the Jubilee Bridge;

  Early design work on the A96 to identify solutions for upgrading the section between Inverness and Nairn to dual carriageway;

  Developing a long term vision for the A82 to improve its overall standard and safety;

  Developing a public transport strategy for the Forth Replacement Crossing which will include funding for a Park and Ride Site;

  Developing a number of Park & Ride sites, including at Dalcross, Dyce (A96), Forgan and outside Ayr (M77), and

  The production of a plan for rail improvements in Glasgow and the West of Scotland through the West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements Steering Group.

Transport

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage businesses to use electric vehicles.

Keith Brown: Central Scotland is one of only eight UK regions to be successful in joining the Plugged-in Places programme, which will provide match funding for the installation of electric vehicle charging points. This Scottish scheme, led by Transport Scotland, is currently under way, and will result in the installation of 375 charging points across areas such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife, Falkirk, Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire.

  The installation of these points will incentivise businesses to purchase electric vehicles, by ensuring that they have the confidence to drive and know that they are in close proximity to an accessible charging point.

  The £3.9 million Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme, also led by Transport Scotland, is making grant funding available to all 32 Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland for the purchase of low carbon vehicles. This scheme is expected to see the roll out of over 100 electric vehicles in to the public sector fleet, with this increased volume of sales capable of contributing to lower capital costs for businesses and private owners through increased economies of scale.

Transport

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support and advice it has for businesses considering the use of electric vehicles.

Keith Brown: Transport Scotland currently work with the Energy Saving Trust to provide businesses and members of the public with advice on transport and travel choices. This is provided by staff at Energy Saving Advice Centres as well as through the website www.chooseanotherway.com . Transport advisors will provide information on buying efficient and low carbon vehicles, including electric vehicles, as well as offering businesses the opportunity to undertake reviews of their existing fleets and undertake travel plans.

Weather

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive  what guidance it has issued to NHS boards on how to treat the pay of staff who were unable to get to work in the recent bad weather.

Nicola Sturgeon: A letter was issued on 14 December 2010 to NHSScotland boards from the Scottish Government, advising on the approach to be taken where staff were unable to attend work during recent adverse weather conditions.

  This letter advised as follows:

  "I expect that you will be applying your board’s Adverse Weather Policy as usual where your staff have been unable to get to work. However, I would urge you to ensure that staff are not penalised for being genuinely unable to attend their place of work due to recent unprecedented travel disruption in certain parts of the country.

  I am well aware that many staff make enormous efforts to attend their work despite the atrocious conditions. However, there will be circumstances where, despite their best efforts, staff will be unable to overcome the challenges posed by travel disruption. In these extreme circumstances I would expect you to avoid penalising staff by, for example, utilising their annual leave to cover the period of absence..."